West Virginia Mountaineer Head Coach Rich Rodriguez Shocks Nation: Turns Down Record $98M NIL Offer from Virginia Tech, Declares “This Is Home”
In an era where loyalty in college football seems as fleeting as fall leaves in Morgantown, West Virginia’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez just proved that some roots run deeper than any dollar amount.
Just weeks after penning a groundbreaking $75 million NIL-driven contract extension that shook the college football landscape, Rodriguez sent shockwaves again—this time by turning down an unprecedented $98 million NIL package from the Virginia Tech Hokies. The deal, which would have made him the highest NIL-compensated coach in college football history, included equity in multiple tech ventures, a private jet, and full control over the Hokies’ football operations.
But Coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t flinch.
“This isn’t about money anymore,” Rodriguez said, standing at midfield in Milan Puskar Stadium, flanked by players, alumni, and a roaring crowd of gold-and-blue faithful. “This is about Mountaineer blood. My loyalty lies here. This is my home.”
Virginia Tech’s audacious offer came amid their aggressive push to rebuild their program after three dismal seasons. Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that not only was the financial offer staggering, but boosters had promised an all-access recruiting empire and a blank check for staff hires. Rodriguez, however, declined even a formal meeting.
“This was never a bidding war,” said WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker. “Rich chose us before, and today he reminded us why Mountaineer Nation is different. Loyalty here can’t be bought—it’s earned, lived, and passed down.”
The former Michigan and Arizona head coach returned to Morgantown in a storybook fashion just last year. After revitalizing a struggling program, leading WVU to a Big 12 title game appearance, and landing the No. 2 recruiting class for 2026, Rodriguez became the face of a Mountaineer resurgence. His $75 million NIL-based contract—which funnels a portion of media and licensing rights into the university’s collective—was widely seen as a revolutionary approach to retaining elite coaching talent.
When asked why he’d walk away from what could have been the biggest payday in college sports history, Rodriguez grinned.
“I don’t need a bigger house. I’ve got a mountain.”
For players like five-star quarterback Zion Barkley, who turned down Georgia and USC to stay in Morgantown, Rodriguez’s decision resonated deeply.
“That’s the kind of man you go to war for,” Barkley said. “He’s not chasing checks—he’s chasing legacy.”
As the Mountaineers prepare for another title run, the message is clear: West Virginia isn’t just building a football program—it’s building a fortress of loyalty, grit, and belief. And leading the charge is a coach who looked nearly $100 million in the face and said, “Not today. Not ever.”
